In Northern Ireland in a typical week, two people die as a result of home accidents. In addition to these deaths, there are approximately 17,000 admissions to hospital each year as a result of unintentional injuries in general.
The aim of the Home Accident Prevention Strategy is to minimise injuries and deaths caused by home accidents. Home accidents can easily be prevented by being aware of the dangers and hazards that are present in the home environment and putting in place interventions to minimise the risks.
This strategy is concerned with the whole population of Northern Ireland but has a particular focus on those who are most at risk. That is babies and children under 5, people over 65, and those with greater social, economic and health disadvantage. These groups are more likely to have accidents and more likely to suffer long-term effects as a consequence of an accident.